Month: October 2011

Today’s ‘standard’ technology is equipped with a camera. Why not harness the simple camera facility in the classroom for all aspects of teaching and learning.

It seems that today’s ‘standard’ technology is equipped with a camera. Why not harness the simple camera facility in the classroom for all aspects of teaching and learning. Taking photos in the classroom should not be completed as a standalone activity. It should have meaning and relevance thus integrating this skill into a real life context is ideal. Posing a simple question to children can lead to a hearty integrated inquiry.

In this case, the question of “If I were a Bee, what would I see?” lends itself to a literacy and numeracy approach. In literacy, students could research about bees, finding out information about its habitat, its behaviour, prey, predator, what it eats and its daily lifestyle. The children are encouraged to read for meaning when researching as they will be using their new gathered knowledge to inform their digital product. In numeracy, a look into counting patterns could be investigated through exploring the number of black stripes on a bee’s abdomen. The possibilities for integrating ICT into these two key learning areas are endless and should be tailored according to the needs of the students.

Once students can articulate what a bee may see on a busy spring’s day they can begin to take photos. The idea is for students to take photos of what a bee may see. For example, flowers. The student chooses one subject (flowers) and stands in a stationary position. They can take photos of the flowers on an angle, portrait or landscape positioning. They are to remain stationary. Once the photos have been taken (about 6-8) and printed they are to be arranged according to how a bee may possibly see. See example below. The idea is to layer the photos on top of one another so that each piece fits another.

Using the all time favourite book Where’s Wally? students can learn photo manipulation. Can you find the iCanTeach icon?

Using the all time favourite text Where’s Wally students can learn photo manipulation, sizing, copying and pasting. The iCanTeach team had a ball when making their very own Where’s Wally? iCT Special Edition. Can you find the iCanTeach icon?

Try making a papermation to showcase understandings or to tell a story. There are no limits to the imagination in this digital product.

Software

iPhoto, iMovie

How To

1. Fill in the Story Plan and Story Board to plan your papermation. This is particularly important for students as they have something to refer back to. Conference with groups to ensure their idea sounds valid and achievable.

2. Students begin to make or find online pictures for their papermation. If their story is set in the desert a good idea for their background is to go online and find a large image of a desert. Otherwise children can design and draw their own.

3. Set up the camera so that it is attached to a tripod. The camera needs to be facing downwards at the images. Alternatively an easier and more efficient method is to use an ipad.

4. Using the Story Board begin to map out the story with students. As there are about 5 in each group they will each have their own ideas. It is best to clarify and map out the story with them before beginning.

5. Place the papermation pieces within the camera frame and take a photo. Slowly move the paper pieces to desired location and take photos. See below

6. Take as many photos as required for papermation. The more detail within the papermation the more photos. Classroom papermations usually contain somewhere between 94-160 photos.